Paint-Stick Lampshade

Paint-Stick Lampshade

Those hardware-store stirrers can do more than just blend semigloss. Instead, use them to ring any cylindrical shade that's up to 14 inches tall.

Step 1: Measure the circumference of your shade to determine how many paint sticks you'll need. Each one is approximately 1"W, so for our 40"-circumference lampshade, we used 40 sticks.

Step 2: String up a length of twine with a drop cloth underneath. Dunk the unnotched end of one stick into a can of semigloss paint (we used Benjamin Moore's Cedar Grove). Secure the unpainted end to the twine with a clothespin. Repeat with remaining sticks, varying the heights of the paint lines. Let dry for four hours.

Step 3: Place your lampshade upside down on a flat surface. Apply a line of hot glue along the length of one stick's back side, and adhere it to the lampshade, placing the notched handle end flush against the top edge (the ends of the sticks may extend past your shade's bottom edge). Repeat with remaining sticks, placing them side by side until the lampshade is covered. Finally, flip it over and position your shade on a pendant- or table-lamp base to really brighten a room.

Bleach-Pen Smock

Bleach-Pen Smock

For a gardening apron that clearly illustrates your go-to gear, first cut three 5"W x 11"L sheets of contact paper (Decora, $3.99 for three yards; amazon.com). Lay each of your three tools atop a separate sheet. Trace around each tool, and use an X-Acto blade to cut out; peel off and discard the shapes. Remove the adhesive backing; then center each sheet onto the pocket area of a denim apron ($10.28; idbarn.com). Press firmly. Working on a plastic tarp, fill in each shape with a gel bleach pen ($2.74; clorox.com for stores). Allow 15 minutes of drying time; then remove the sheets and draw "stitch" marks between the pockets. Let the apron dry for 30 minutes more, rinse it thoroughly in cold water, and hang to dry.

Paint-Stick Lampshade

Those hardware-store stirrers can do more than just blend semigloss. Instead, use them to ring any cylindrical shade that's up to 14 inches tall.

Step 1: Measure the circumference of your shade to determine how many paint sticks you'll need. Each one is approximately 1"W, so for our 40"-circumference lampshade, we used 40 sticks.

Step 2: String up a length of twine with a drop cloth underneath. Dunk the unnotched end of one stick into a can of semigloss paint (we used Benjamin Moore's Cedar Grove). Secure the unpainted end to the twine with a clothespin. Repeat with remaining sticks, varying the heights of the paint lines. Let dry for four hours.

Step 3: Place your lampshade upside down on a flat surface. Apply a line of hot glue along the length of one stick's back side, and adhere it to the lampshade, placing the notched handle end flush against the top edge (the ends of the sticks may extend past your shade's bottom edge). Repeat with remaining sticks, placing them side by side until the lampshade is covered. Finally, flip it over and position your shade on a pendant- or table-lamp base to really brighten a room.

Bleach-Pen Smock

For a gardening apron that clearly illustrates your go-to gear, first cut three 5"W x 11"L sheets of contact paper (Decora, $3.99 for three yards; amazon.com). Lay each of your three tools atop a separate sheet. Trace around each tool, and use an X-Acto blade to cut out; peel off and discard the shapes. Remove the adhesive backing; then center each sheet onto the pocket area of a denim apron ($10.28; idbarn.com). Press firmly. Working on a plastic tarp, fill in each shape with a gel bleach pen ($2.74; clorox.com for stores). Allow 15 minutes of drying time; then remove the sheets and draw "stitch" marks between the pockets. Let the apron dry for 30 minutes more, rinse it thoroughly in cold water, and hang to dry.

Alison Gootee/Studio D

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Ruler Table Runner

Follow the steps below to do a number on a drab drop cloth ($10.98 for 6'W × 9'L; homedepot.com for stores).

Step 1: Cut a strip from the drop cloth that measures 14¼"W × 8'1¼"L; press it to iron out any wrinkles. To hem all four edges: Turn each under ⅝"; press, then stitch in place using a ½-inch seam allowance. The fabric strip should now measure 13"W × 96"L.

Step 2: Working on one of the strip's long sides and starting at a short end, use a ruler and a pencil to measure and mark one inch at a time; continue until you reach the other end. Repeat on the opposite side of the strip. Next, using your ruler and our photo as a guide, draw a line at each mark, varying the line lengths. At each 16th mark, draw a line that crosses the entire strip. Trace over the lines using a black fabric marker ($2.99; createforless.com), which dries almost instantly.

Step 3: Just left of each line that crosses the strip, and working in numerical order, center a six-inch-high number stencil ($14.62 for set; stencilsonline.com). Affix with stencil adhesive ($4.65 for 4.4 ounces; misterart.com).

Step 4: Using a foam stencil brush, fill in the stencil with fabric paint ($2.19 for 1 ounce; createforless.com). Let dry about four hours. Remove stencils; if needed, touch up the numbers with a paintbrush. To clean the runner, wash by hand and hang dry.

Cardboard Tubes Wall Storage

Step 1: Purchase two, four-foot-tall cardboard tubes, one measuring 10 inches wide and the other 12 inches wide. Use a jigsaw to cut each tube into smaller tubes of varying heights (refer to the photo at left for guidance).

Step 2: Cover the outside of each smaller tube with contact paper. Cut away any excess paper with a utility knife.

Step 3: Arrange the tubes on the floor as you'd like them to hang. Wherever two meet, use an awl to poke a hole through both. Slide a no. 10 washer onto a 6-32 x ½" bolt, push the bolt through both tubes, slide another no. 10 washer onto the bolt, and secure with a nut. Fasten all the pieces together in this way.

Step 4: To create load-bearing braces, slide a piece of wood that's at least an inch thick underneath one of the topmost tubes. Trace an arc along the top half of the tube's interior onto the wood. Measure down two inches and draw another arc that connects to the first, making a crescent shape. Repeat for all the tubes on the top row.

Step 5: Use a jigsaw to cut out crescents from wood, following the shapes you drew. Drill a hole into the center of each shape.

Step 6: With a friend's help, position the tubes on your wall. Use a pencil to lightly trace the top arc on the wall, along the interior of each topmost tube. Set the tubes aside. Place a brace so it aligns with one of the drawn-on arcs, then stick a pencil through the brace's hole to make another small mark on the wall. Drill a hole in that spot, then tap in a plastic anchor until it's flush against the wall. Repeat with remaining braces.

Step 7: Align the hole in one brace with the corresponding anchor. Using a drill with a Phillips-head bit, screw the brace to the wall. Repeat with remaining braces. Set the tubes onto the braces.

Step 8: At the back of each supported tube, just above the brace, make a pilot hole with an awl. Fasten the tubes to the braces using ¾-inch screws.

Lesley Unruh/Rodal Books 2010

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Roller Shades Kids' Clubhouse

Step 1: Working with a square or rectangular dining table, measure the distance between the insides of the legs on all four sides, and purchase four roller shades in corresponding widths.

Step 2: Measure the height of your table from the floor to just under the table's apron. Unfurl four roller shades on a clean work surface, and measure and mark this height from the bottom of each shade.

Step 3: Using the photo below as inspiration, pencil a playful hideout scene freehand on the unrolled shade, making sure to stay within the marked area. Trace over your drawing with a fine-tip Sharpie.

Step 4: Turn your table upside down and, following package directions, install bracket hardware. Make sure that the side featuring your artwork will face outward when pulled down, and leave enough space to accommodate the thickness of the shade when it's rolled up.

Lesley Unruh/Rodal Books 2010

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Vinyl Mailbox Numbers Chain-Link Mirror Frame

Step 1: For this project, you'll need a round mirror with a flat-surface frame that's approximately two inches in width (for similar: $138; ovalandroundmirrors.com). Measure the diameter of your framed mirror; for a 21-inch mirror, you'll need around 44 vinyl zero stickers — 22 black and 22 white — that each measure about three inches high.

Step 2: Using the inside pieces of the black zeroes (the parts you normally discard), apply the stickers along the frame's inner edge to form a chain, leaving a small space between each zero. Repeat this process along the frame's outer edge with the inside part of the white zeroes, leaving a tad more space between zeroes. Affix small adhesive pads between the zeroes on both the inner and outer chains (as shown above).

Step 3: Create a middle chain in the frame's center with the outer pieces of the black zeroes, slightly overlapping them as you go.

Lesley Unruh/Rodal Books 2010

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Rope Necklace

Humble hardware-store materials make it a snap to fashion this accessory.

Step 1: Use scissors to cut cotton venetian-blind cord ($6.99 for 48'L × 9/64 "D; amazon.com) into nine 64-inch lengths. Loop the cords through the swivel-eye of a brass boat snap (5/8" boat snap, $3.95; amazon.com) until their ends meet. Clip the snap to a secure surface, like a drawer pull.

Step 2: Divide the dangling cords into three groups of six. Braid the groups as you would hair, making sure the cords lie flat and side by side.

Step 3: When you have reached two inches from the cords' ends, secure the braid with a rubber band. Separate a single cord end from the center of the group, then double-knot it to one end of a 4½-inch-long, gold-colored chain, as shown. Then use pliers to attach a jump ring to the chain's other end (chain, $10 per foot; Toho Shoji NY, 212-868-7465. Twenty-millimeter jump ring, 80 cents; beadfx.com).

Step 4: Cut the other cords just below the rubber band. Wrap one-inch-wide gaffer tape ($12.99 for 60 yards; amazon.com), six times, around the cut ends and rubber band. Slide a copper slip coupling ($1.80; homedepot.com for stores) over the taped section, making sure the coupling fits snugly atop the tape.

Step 5: At the necklace's other end, wrap the tape six times around the cords just below the snap. Finish by sliding a second coupling atop the tape.